Chester — A new organization has formed for the conservation of the environment around Glenmere Lake.
The Glenmere Conservation Coalition is a nonprofit alliance of member organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving the Glenmere reservoir, which is a critical habitat of many plant and animal species.
The lake, and the county-owned land that surrounds it, is among the mid-Hudson’s most biodiverse wild communities. Glenmere provides habitat to the northern cricket frog, which is on New York State’s list of endangered species.
It’s also home to Orange County’s largest true bog, an area of floating islands of vegetation. The bog provides canoeing and kayaking opportunities, and a wide variety of resident waterfowl. Bald eagles are observed there year-round. The Glenmere bog is home to several species of orchid, three types of carnivorous plant (including the pitcher plant and sundew), and countless species of other emergent plants.
Glenmere Lake is now experiencing development pressures. Plans for the Glenmere Preserve call for putting more than 200 residential units on 95 acres near the lake.
Anyone interested in find out more about the Glenmere Conservation Coalition may visit www.glenmere.us.
Hills projects continue dispute over roads By Edie Johnson
Plans will proceed for through-road across Chester-Goshen border
Chester — Plans will continue for a proposed through-road across the Goshen-Chester border, despite opposition from neighbors and planners on the Goshen side.
A lively planning board meeting grew heated recently when developer Steve Esposito gave a presentation on the Hills of Chester, a 24-lot single-family subdivision proposed for 42 acres sandwiched between Whispering Hills in Chester and the Hills of Goshen.
Development plans were halted several years ago when Chester instituted a moratorium on new building. The site’s original senior citizen housing complex, or planned adult community, was scratched because it did not have access to state and county roads.
Meanwhile, a county traffic study recommended cutting through the Hills of Goshen to improve traffic flow. The only options leading out of the development are through the Whispering Hills housing development to Route 94, or through the Hills of Goshen to Arcadia Road. When Goshen was presented with the choice of displeasing Chester or contributing to traffic congestion on Arcadia Road, the town agreed to allow only an emergency access road to the Hills of Goshen.
Astonished and angry at Goshen’s decision, Bill Johanson, the Chester Planning Board chair, said it flies in the face of good planning. “The whole idea of planning is interconnectivity and free flow,” he said.
The Goshen Planning Board wanted to know: How will Chester be able to allow emergency vehicles and school buses to pass through and still be able to stop other traffic?
The people who live in the Hills of Goshen and on Arcadia Road do not want the through traffic. But neither do those who live in Whispering Hills, which is already a giant cul-de-sac.
Murmurs of a “border war” and “It’s practically a blockade” could be heard rippling through the room.
“Where does a planning board go with this kind of problem?” Johanson asked. Other board members said Chester has “the county behind us.”
The Chester board felt it needed to come to a decision about what to do for the developer, who had done his part to complete the application process. He had a traffic study done and appeared before both planning boards. The board and its lawyer consulted the town zoning code, which says the board is responsible for approving a site plan “to provide a convenient transport.” But the board had done what it could.
Esposito said Chester should let the project continue with its plans and be happy that “at least Whispering Hills will finally have an emergency exit.”
The planning board decided to force the issue by allowing the applicant to continue with his plans.
In reference to WHD becoming a public access road for the proposed subdivision;
I received a Public Hearing Notice last week. I'm sure (I hope) that many of you are in receipt of this letter as well. The meeting is scheduled for 1/2/08 @ 7:30 pm, and will be held at the Chester Town Hall, Kings Highway. When this proposal reared it's ugly head a few years ago, it made me sick to my stomach........well, I'm getting nauseous all over again. We need to be there in force, and with a clear, unified voice!!!!!!!!
...............AND WE SHOULD INSIST THAT ALL WHHOA BOARD MEMBERS BE IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 comments:
* WHB was archived on 12/13/07. Old posts are listed under "Current Blog Topics" in the upper right pane of our site.
"The Chronicle"
New coalition forms to save Glenmere Lake
Chester — A new organization has formed for the conservation of the environment around Glenmere Lake.
The Glenmere Conservation Coalition is a nonprofit alliance of member organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving the Glenmere reservoir, which is a critical habitat of many plant and animal species.
The lake, and the county-owned land that surrounds it, is among the mid-Hudson’s most biodiverse wild communities. Glenmere provides habitat to the northern cricket frog, which is on New York State’s list of endangered species.
It’s also home to Orange County’s largest true bog, an area of floating islands of vegetation. The bog provides canoeing and kayaking opportunities, and a wide variety of resident waterfowl. Bald eagles are observed there year-round. The Glenmere bog is home to several species of orchid, three types of carnivorous plant (including the pitcher plant and sundew), and countless species of other emergent plants.
Glenmere Lake is now experiencing development pressures. Plans for the Glenmere Preserve call for putting more than 200 residential units on 95 acres near the lake.
Anyone interested in find out more about the Glenmere Conservation Coalition may visit www.glenmere.us.
"The Chronicle"
Hills projects continue dispute over roads
By Edie Johnson
Plans will proceed for through-road across Chester-Goshen border
Chester — Plans will continue for a proposed through-road across the Goshen-Chester border, despite opposition from neighbors and planners on the Goshen side.
A lively planning board meeting grew heated recently when developer Steve Esposito gave a presentation on the Hills of Chester, a 24-lot single-family subdivision proposed for 42 acres sandwiched between Whispering Hills in Chester and the Hills of Goshen.
Development plans were halted several years ago when Chester instituted a moratorium on new building. The site’s original senior citizen housing complex, or planned adult community, was scratched because it did not have access to state and county roads.
Meanwhile, a county traffic study recommended cutting through the Hills of Goshen to improve traffic flow. The only options leading out of the development are through the Whispering Hills housing development to Route 94, or through the Hills of Goshen to Arcadia Road. When Goshen was presented with the choice of displeasing Chester or contributing to traffic congestion on Arcadia Road, the town agreed to allow only an emergency access road to the Hills of Goshen.
Astonished and angry at Goshen’s decision, Bill Johanson, the Chester Planning Board chair, said it flies in the face of good planning. “The whole idea of planning is interconnectivity and free flow,” he said.
The Goshen Planning Board wanted to know: How will Chester be able to allow emergency vehicles and school buses to pass through and still be able to stop other traffic?
The people who live in the Hills of Goshen and on Arcadia Road do not want the through traffic. But neither do those who live in Whispering Hills, which is already a giant cul-de-sac.
Murmurs of a “border war” and “It’s practically a blockade” could be heard rippling through the room.
“Where does a planning board go with this kind of problem?” Johanson asked. Other board members said Chester has “the county behind us.”
The Chester board felt it needed to come to a decision about what to do for the developer, who had done his part to complete the application process. He had a traffic study done and appeared before both planning boards. The board and its lawyer consulted the town zoning code, which says the board is responsible for approving a site plan “to provide a convenient transport.” But the board had done what it could.
Esposito said Chester should let the project continue with its plans and be happy that “at least Whispering Hills will finally have an emergency exit.”
The planning board decided to force the issue by allowing the applicant to continue with his plans.
I can't being to tell you how deflating your last article is. I'm sick to my stomach!
In reference to WHD becoming a public access road for the proposed subdivision;
I received a Public Hearing Notice last week. I'm sure (I hope) that many of you are in receipt of this letter as well. The meeting is scheduled for 1/2/08 @ 7:30 pm, and will be held at the Chester Town Hall, Kings Highway. When this proposal reared it's ugly head a few years ago, it made me sick to my stomach........well, I'm getting nauseous all over again. We need to be there in force, and with a clear, unified voice!!!!!!!!
...............AND WE SHOULD INSIST THAT ALL WHHOA BOARD MEMBERS BE IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Post a Comment